{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,27]],"date-time":"2026-09-27T03:39:54Z","timestamp":1790480394800,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,16]],"date-time":"2022-06-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1655337600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Aims<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Cannabis is the most commonly used regulated drug by European youths. Yet, few cannabis-specific interventions have been examined in Europe. The Cannabis Cessation Program (CCP) was developed in Sweden in the 1990s and has been implemented in some Norwegian municipalities. The present study aimed to examine outcomes of this intervention in the Norwegian setting.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Method<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The respondents (N = 102) were recruited in four community-based CCPs in Norway. We examined their changes in cannabis use, other substance use, mental distress, well-being, sense of coherence (SoC), and social networks, from baseline (T0) to post-treatment (T1) and up to a 3-month follow-up period (T2). Changes were evaluated with pair-wise t-tests.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Result<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Seventy-six participants (75%) completed the 8-week program, according to plan. All participants reported a significant reduction in cannabis use at T1 (average reduction ~16 days per month) and at T2 (N = 59; ~13 days per month). Among those that completed the program, 67% was abstinent from cannabis at T1 and 37% was abstinent at T2. An intention-to-treat analysis showed that 50% (51\/102) and 22% (22\/102) were abstinent from cannabis use at T1 and T2, respectively. In parallel to abstinence, we observed a substantial reduction in mental distress and an increase in well-being and SoC. Respondents socialized with fewer friends with current substance use, but drug-free social networks were not expanded.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Our findings suggested that the CCP was a valuable, low-threshold manual-based intervention for cannabis use disorders. It showed considerable potential for reducing individuals\u2019 cannabis use.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n<jats:title>Clinical trial registration<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Clinicaltrials.gov no. <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" ext-link-type=\"uri\" xlink:href=\"https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT01128790\" xlink:type=\"simple\">NCT04989205<\/jats:ext-link>. Registered 12 July 2021, i.e., the study was retrospectively registered.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0269988","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,16]],"date-time":"2022-06-16T17:36:05Z","timestamp":1655400965000},"page":"e0269988","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Successful outcomes with low\u2013threshold intervention for cannabis use disorders in Norway - an observational study"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7341-5480","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"John-K\u00e5re","family":"Vederhus","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Malin","family":"R\u00f8rendal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Madelene","family":"Sk\u00e5rdal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marianne Otterstad","family":"N\u00e6ss","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Thomas","family":"Clausen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"\u00d8istein","family":"Kristensen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0269988.ref001","volume-title":"European drug report: trends and developments","author":"European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction","year":"2021"},{"issue":"1\u20132","key":"pone.0269988.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2010.11.004","article-title":"Probability and predictors of transition from first use to dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine: results of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)","volume":"115","author":"C Lopez-Quintero","year":"2011","journal-title":"Drug Alcohol Depend"},{"key":"pone.0269988.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copsyc.2020.11.002","article-title":"Interventions for cannabis use disorder","volume":"38","author":"KC Winters","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr Opin Psychol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0269988.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"780","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-018-5625-0","article-title":"Who seeks treatment for cannabis use? Registered characteristics and physical, psychological and psychosocial problem indicators among cannabis patients and matched controls","volume":"18","author":"SG Christiansen","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"issue":"20","key":"pone.0269988.ref005","first-page":"1736","article-title":"Does stronger cannabis cause more health problems? [Gir sterkere cannabis flere helseproblemer?]","volume":"136","author":"V Vindenes","year":"2016","journal-title":"Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0269988.ref006","first-page":"CD005336","article-title":"Psychosocial interventions for cannabis use disorder","author":"PJ Gates","year":"2016","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"pone.0269988.ref007","volume-title":"Treatment of cannabis-related problems in the Nordic countries","author":"K. Stenius","year":"2019"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0269988.ref008","first-page":"37","article-title":"The theoretical background for the cannabis cessation program [Den teoretiska bakgrunden till Haschavv\u00e4njningsprogrammet (HAP)\u2014en metod f\u00f6r behandling av cannabismissbruk]","author":"T Lundqvist","year":"2007","journal-title":"Socialmedicinsk Tidsskrift"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0269988.ref009","first-page":"46","article-title":"The Cannabis Cessation Program at Maria Ungdom. [Haschavgiftningsprogrammet vid Maria Ungdom]","author":"B Petrell","year":"2007","journal-title":"Socialmedicinsk tidskrift"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0269988.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1186\/s13722-020-00185-8","article-title":"Guided web-based treatment program for reducing cannabis use: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"15","author":"K Sinadinovic","year":"2020","journal-title":"Addiction science & clinical practice"},{"key":"pone.0269988.ref011","article-title":"Can a Smartphone App for Cannabis Cessation Gain a Broader User Group than Traditional Treatment Services?","volume":"14","author":"JK Vederhus","year":"2020","journal-title":"Subst Abuse: Res Treat"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0269988.ref012","first-page":"368","article-title":"Cannabis smoking cessation courses; feasibility and follow-up results [Kurs i r\u00f8ykeavvenning for cannabisbrukere\u2013en oppf\u00f8lgingsstudie]","volume":"6","author":"AR Hansen","year":"2011","journal-title":"Sykepleien Forskning"},{"key":"pone.0269988.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1284","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinthera.2007.07.004","article-title":"Importance of observational studies in clinical practice","volume":"29","author":"RJ Ligthelm","year":"2007","journal-title":"Clin Ther"},{"key":"pone.0269988.ref014","volume-title":"A guide for those who want to quit smoking cannabis [En guide for DEG som vil slutte med hasj]","author":"T Lundqvist","year":"2005"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0269988.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2005.10.014","article-title":"The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) in an adolescent population of cannabis users: reliability, validity and diagnostic cut-off","volume":"83","author":"G Martin","year":"2006","journal-title":"Drug Alcohol Depend"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0269988.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1080\/10550490500528316","article-title":"The Addiction Severity Index at 25: Origins, Contributions and Transitions","volume":"15","author":"AT McLellan","year":"2006","journal-title":"Am J Addict"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0269988.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"653","DOI":"10.1002\/hec.1086","article-title":"Is there a case for using visual analogue scale valuations in cost-utility analysis?","volume":"15","author":"D Parkin","year":"2006","journal-title":"Health Econ"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0269988.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1080\/08039480310000932","article-title":"Measuring the mental health status of the Norwegian population: a comparison of the instruments SCL-25, SCL-10, SCL-5 and MHI-5 (SF-36)","volume":"57","author":"BH Strand","year":"2003","journal-title":"Nord J Psychiatry"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0269988.ref019","first-page":"91","article-title":"The outcome rating scale: A preliminary study of the reliability, validity, and feasibility of a brief visual analog measure","volume":"2","author":"SD Miller","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Brief Therapy"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0269988.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"460","DOI":"10.1136\/jech.2003.018085","article-title":"Validity of Antonovsky\u2019s sense of coherence scale: a systematic review","volume":"59","author":"M Eriksson","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Epidemiol Community Health"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0269988.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"766","DOI":"10.1111\/add.12471","article-title":"Motivational intervention to enhance post-detoxification 12-Step group affiliation: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"109","author":"JK Vederhus","year":"2014","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0269988.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"660","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addbeh.2011.01.011","article-title":"Understanding motivation for substance use treatment: the role of social pressure during the transition to adulthood","volume":"36","author":"I Goodman","year":"2011","journal-title":"Addict Behav"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0269988.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2009.10.010","article-title":"Effect of anxiety on treatment presentation and outcome: results from the Marijuana Treatment Project","volume":"178","author":"JD Buckner","year":"2010","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0269988.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/S0740-5472(01)00179-9","article-title":"A randomized controlled trial of brief cognitive-behavioral interventions for cannabis use disorder","volume":"21","author":"J Copeland","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Subst Abuse Treat"},{"issue":"23\u201324","key":"pone.0269988.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2145","DOI":"10.1016\/0024-3205(95)00201-G","article-title":"Chronic cannabis use and the sense of coherence","volume":"56","author":"T. 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